Change in horse behaviour

[lifewithflash]

My 4y/o has been acting quite highly sprung recently, around in that last 2 weeks. Trotting around, running through the gate when going back into field, pulling to grass, not standing still, spooking more than usual. I might be being dramatic but I don't want to pass this behaviour as him being "naughty" if he's trying to tell me something.
He's good as gold when we are in the arena and when I'm on him, listens to me and is calm. He seems tense, anxious and snorts a lot when I lead him from and to the field.

Why do u think he could be like this? and if anyone have any tips for calming a horse down or stop pulling to the grass.

 

[GypsGal1718]

Has anything changed with the yard, new horses etc, have you seen dominance behaviour towards him/towards others?

 

[lifewithflash]

Has anything changed with the yard, new horses etc, have you seen dominance behaviour towards him/towards others?

Only thing that has changed is my horse being pts 3 weeks ago. I've looked into grief cos he was very attached to her but he hadn't seen her for 2 weeks beforehand (minus the day she died but that was for like 5 minutes while we waited for the vet). But i really don't know, I've had a horse that had grief from losing her friend but she was depressed and tired not "crazy".

He has not show dominance behaviour towards others, he's near the end of the pecking order so he does get chased around sometimes. No new horses either.

 

[maya2008]

Based on our youngsters, are his teeth due? Literally a week before the dentist, two of mine started being a little bit more spooky than usual. Dentist came, teeth done, back to normal.

 

[Lucky788]

Did they share a field/ we’re neighbours?
Have any of his other neighbours changed behaviour?

Seems likely it’s linked if it’s happened so close together

So sorry for your loss

 

[Wishfilly]

Is he hungry? We don't have brilliant grass in our fields at the moment, and it does make horses trickier to bring in. The trotting and rushing may also be to get to the yard/food more quickly. Or, alternatively, is there fresh/lush grass coming through?

 

[SEL]

A tapeworm burden caused mine to get tetchy and unpredictable. I'm still fighting it but he's due another test and hoping his good behaviour right now means we've zapped them.

Apparently very painful and known for causing out of character behaviour

 

[Melody Grey]

Our grass is lush and rich at the moment giving more sugar than ours usually have and they all are full of themselves at the moment, though we strip graze and muzzle the pony to avoid too much.

Have yours had little grass and then been let on it? Could be that?
Might be worth restricting grazing or trying a gut balancer and seeing if there’s any improvement?

 

[sjdress]

My young horse is literally doing the same but has now escalated into napping. Hoping it’s hormones/grass and not pain related

 

[misst]

He might be missing your old girl but there is a lot of nice grass around at the moment. Hope you are doing ok lifewithflash.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I would say fresh grass? Unless you have none in which case could it be hunger?

 

[lauragreen85]

My 4y/o has been acting quite highly sprung recently, around in that last 2 weeks. Trotting around, running through the gate when going back into field, pulling to grass, not standing still, spooking more than usual. I might be being dramatic but I don't want to pass this behaviour as him being "naughty" if he's trying to tell me something.
He's good as gold when we are in the arena and when I'm on him, listens to me and is calm. He seems tense, anxious and snorts a lot when I lead him from and to the field.

Why do u think he could be like this? and if anyone have any tips for calming a horse down or stop pulling to the grass.

We have found this too with I think its the grass. To stop the spooky behaviour we started ponease calmer. its settled my younng horse and her stomach is much better on it to.